The lawyer representing a security guard who shot at fleeing robbers four times in a parking lot at the Gardens Mall said his client was justified and shouldn't face charges."He thought that day he was either going to get run down or shot," attorney Cory Strolla said.Watch the storyStrolla represents Tactical Operations Group, which contracted Jose Sanchez to guard jewelry at Saks Fifth Avenue.Sanchez chased a shoplifter into the parking lot last week after witnessing him grab four Valentino purses valued at $4,000 and knock down a Saks loss-prevention officer.Strolla said Sanchez chased the suspect outside, where another suspect drove up in a getaway car, straight at Sanchez, who fired a warning shot in the air. When the car kept coming, he fired three more times at the rear tires.The suspects, both with lengthy criminal records, were caught a short time later because of Sanchez's description of the car.But Sanchez is being investigated by Palm Beach Gardens police and the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, which licenses security guards.Strolla said Sanchez did the right thing."The minute that door opened up and he couldn't see the other assailant's hands, and he wasn't sure he wasn't going to be run down, under the Florida Stand Your Ground Law, he actually could have shot into the car," Strolla said.Strolla said in the same situation, a police officer probably would have shot the suspects. He said it was a tough moment for Sanchez, who had never pulled his weapon in his 14 years as a security guard."He was basically almost in tears, saying, 'I'm so glad to be alive, I'm so glad to be alive,'" Strolla said.The police investigation will be turned over to the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office for review.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. —

The lawyer representing a security guard who shot at fleeing robbers four times in a parking lot at the Gardens Mall said his client was justified and shouldn't face charges.

"He thought that day he was either going to get run down or shot," attorney Cory Strolla said.

Sanchez chased a shoplifter into the parking lot last week after witnessing him grab four Valentino purses valued at $4,000 and knock down a Saks loss-prevention officer.

Strolla said Sanchez chased the suspect outside, where another suspect drove up in a getaway car, straight at Sanchez, who fired a warning shot in the air. When the car kept coming, he fired three more times at the rear tires.

The suspects, both with lengthy criminal records, were caught a short time later because of Sanchez's description of the car.

But Sanchez is being investigated by Palm Beach Gardens police and the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, which licenses security guards.

Strolla said Sanchez did the right thing.

"The minute that door opened up and he couldn't see the other assailant's hands, and he wasn't sure he wasn't going to be run down, under the Florida Stand Your Ground Law, he actually could have shot into the car," Strolla said.

Strolla said in the same situation, a police officer probably would have shot the suspects. He said it was a tough moment for Sanchez, who had never pulled his weapon in his 14 years as a security guard.

"He was basically almost in tears, saying, 'I'm so glad to be alive, I'm so glad to be alive,'" Strolla said.

The police investigation will be turned over to the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office for review.